Page 12 of The Write Midlife

The elevator ride felt like it took an eternity. She used the time to give herself a pep talk. "You've got this, Melody. You're a successful author. You write real, honest stories about love. Don't let some corporate pretty boy change that."

The doors opened, and she stepped out onto the fifteenth floor. It was all sleek lines and modern art, screaming "we have more money than we know what to do with." She made her way to room 1508, her heart pounding a samba in her chest.

She knocked, hearing a muffled "Come in" from the other side. Taking one last deep breath, she opened the door.

And promptly forgot how to breathe.

Sitting behind the desk, looking unfairly handsome in a crisp white shirt and blue tie, was Nate. Her Nate. The guy from the party. The guy who had given her the best night of her life and then disappeared.

Their eyes met, and she saw the same shock mirrored in his clear blue gaze. For a moment, they both just stared, the air between them crackling with tension and unspoken words.

Nate recovered first, standing up so abruptly he nearly knocked over his chair. "Mel. I... wasn't expecting..."

Melody found her voice, though it came out higher than usual. "Clearly. I guess the universe has a twisted sense of humor."

He carded a hand through his hair, a gesture so familiar it made her heart ache. "I had no idea you were... I mean, when I read your file, I didn't realize..."

"That I was the girl you slept with and then ghosted?" The words came out sharper than she intended, fueled by a mix of embarrassment and lingering hurt.

Nate winced. "I didn't ghost you. I left a note."

She let out a humorless laugh. "'Last night was incredible'? That's not a note, Nate. That's a cop-out."

He stepped around the desk, moving closer. "Mel, I'm sorry. If I had known..."

She held up a hand, stopping him. "Let's just... forget it ever happened, okay? We're here to work. You're my editor, I'm your author. That's it."

Nate nodded, though she could see the conflict in his eyes. "Right. Of course. Please, have a seat."

She sat, crossing her legs and trying to ignore how good he smelled. It was the same cologne from that night, and it was bringing back memories she really didn't need right now.

Nate cleared his throat, all business now. "So, I've read your previous work. You have a unique voice, Mel...um, Melody. Your characters are complex, your plots unpredictable. It's... refreshing."

Melody relaxed slightly. "Thank you. I try to write stories that reflect real life. Love isn't always easy or straightforward."

"I noticed. Particularly in your last book. The scene where Angie confronts Tom about his fear of commitment? Brilliant."

"You actually read it? I mean, really read it?"

"Cover to cover. Twice." His smile grew, and for a moment, she saw a glimpse of the Nate she met at the party. Charming, funny, passionate.

Then he straightened, and the corporate mask slipped back into place. "However, we do have some concerns about the commercial viability of your next project."

And just like that, her guard was back up. "What kind of concerns?"

Nate pulled out a file, flipping it open. "Your proposal for 'Love in the Time of Cheese' is... unique. But we're worried it might be too niche. We were thinking something more... mainstream."

She felt her hackles rise. "Mainstream? You mean boring and predictable?"

He sighed. "Melody, I understand your commitment to realism. But readers often want escape, fantasy. Happy endings that aren't quite so... messy."

"Life is messy," she snapped. "Love is messy. Why shouldn't our stories reflect that?"

Nate leaned forward, his voice softening. "I get it. Believe me, I do. But we also have to think about sales. About reaching a wider audience."

She stood up, unable to sit still any longer. "So you want me to sell out? To write cookie-cutter romances where everyone's beautiful and rich and problems are solved in 300 pages or less?"

He stood too, frustration evident in his voice. "That's not what I'm saying. We just need to find a middle ground. Something that stays true to your voice but also appeals to a broader readership."